Getting into the final stretch

This afternoon we will be part of the farewell party of the Pacific Puddle Jumpers here in Banderas Bay. Al tough there are hundreds of boats in this area, only about 14 will be sailing the 2900 NM from here to the Marquesas, French Polynesia. The far majority of these 14 boats will be leaving on Monday, the first good weather window to catch good wind to go West. Almost all boats leaving from here are boats with US crew only, and they can only stay in French Polynesia for 90 days (unless they applied in advance for a special permit).  These boats plan to sail another 5000 to 6000 NM to either Australia or New Zealand to be there for cyclone season, starting end of November.

Bliss on the other hand, is in a slightly different boat. As Europeans, Tessa and I can stay in French Polynesia for an unlimited time, and Tod gets another benefit for being married to me:-). We do have to submit paperwork once we arrive in the Marquesas, but if all goes well, Tod will get his annual Carte de Sejour, and we can bob around without going all the way down South. We plan to leave Bliss in French Polynesia during cyclone season, but as all boat plans, they are written in sand.

We plan to leave in the 3rd of 4th week of March, waiting for another good weather window. In the meantime, still boat projects, home schooling, and provisioning to do. Tod's birthday coming up next week, and we will have the chance to get one more "fancy" meal in. We hope that Tessa's birthday is no longer at sea, but celebrated in "Moana Land" (she is very excited!).

I will send out one more blog post before we leave, that will include a tracker for our Pacific Ocean crossing. Hasta luego, and thanks for following along! We love to hear from you!

Crocodiles in marina Puerta Vallarta, yikes

Catching up and having fun with our friends aboard Let it Be

Looking up from our bedroom 

Fascinated by the lobster at the fish market

This is another project added to the list, and counts as birthday gifts for both of us for the next years.
we decided to add a spinnaker pole for our downwind sailing

cruise ships in Puerta Vallarta make you feel so tiny

We can not wait to do more sailing/playing, here back to
our home base in la Cruz. Whales and dolphins on our sail home

Dona Mari, the 99 years old Mexican woman, walking every day several km,
collecting cans for money. She makes you smile.

hanging out in the cruisers lounge in La Cruz, with AC!

So much fun with La Cruz Kids Club, and Cat (on the right) makes it all happen!

I'm gonna miss dropping off our laundry for $6, getting back same day,
nicely folded. Hand washing from here on after we leave....